'Hannah Montana' turns 20: 5 things to know about the anniversary special
We're pumpin' up the party, because it's the 20th anniversary of "Hannah Montana."
Disney+ and Hulu kicked off the "Hannahversary" celebration Monday night in Hollywood with a star-studded premiere for the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special," streaming now on Disney+ and Hulu.
Miley Cyrus, who starred as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in the hit Disney Channel series, stepped out on the purple carpet at the event alongside some of her former co-stars, including Jason Earles, Moises Arias, Cody Linley, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Shanica Knowles.
Her fiance Maxx Morando was also by her side, as well as her mom Tish Cyrus-Purcell and sister Brandi Cyrus. Also in attendance were celebrities including Jaden Smith, Willow Smith and Lainey Wilson.
The "Hannah Montana" special, hosted by "Call Her Daddy" podcast host Alex Cooper, is described as a "love letter to fans." In it, Cyrus revisits iconic moments from the Disney Channel show and also performs some of her hit songs that many know and love.
"Without you all, this show would have never been what it is," Miley Cyrus told the audience at the premiere. "Tonight isn't about looking back into the past, but it's about what it means to us still tonight."
Here are five things to watch in the new special.
Spoiler alert: If you haven't yet seen the "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special," look away now.
1. Does Miley Cyrus perform?
In Hannah Montana fashion, Miley Cyrus opens her special with a performance of the show's theme song, "The Best of Both Worlds."
She also performs "This is the Life," which she says is the first song she performed as Hannah, and "The Climb," which she sang in "Hannah Montana: The Movie."
Cyrus also surprises fans in the special with a new original song.
2. Who appears in the special?
Although the premiere was attended by a handful of Cyrus' former co-stars, only a few appear in the special, including her dad Billy Ray Cyrus, who played Hannah's father in the show, and Selena Gomez, who played Mikayla, Hannah's pop rival in the series.
Miley Cyrus' sister Noah Cyrus, who had a few cameos in the original series, makes an appearance in the special too.
In one special moment from the special, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus recall what it was like auditioning and working on set together.
"It was art imitating life imitating art," Billy Ray Cyrus says.
Miley Cyrus tells Cooper about her relationship with her dad, saying, "I know how much our relationship means to everyone that watched the show. I think when me and my dad are good, people, they feel better. It just feels good when the Cyruses are getting along."
Cyrus-Purcell, who was married to Billy Ray Cyrus from 1993 to 2023 and was remarried in 2023 to actor Dominic Purcell, makes an appearance in the special as well, and Miley Cyrus reveals how her mom played an integral role in the original series when it came to the show's fashion.
"My mom really had a vision for Miley, even more so than Hannah," Cyrus says. "We could walk into a store, and we would just know the difference. Like that's very Hannah, that's very Miley."
Another surprise guest in the special is Chappell Roan, who shares with Cyrus that she was a big "Hannah Montana" fan growing up, adding that Cyrus walked so she could run.
3. Did Miley Cyrus spill any tea about her love interests on the show?
One of Cooper's burning questions that was teased in the special's trailer is about Cyrus' love interests on the show.
Fans may recall Hannah's boyfriend Jake Ryan (Linley) and the time she was caught in a love triangle with Jake and Jesse (Drew Roy).
When Cooper asks Cyrus if she preferred Jake or Jesse, Cyrus replies, "Jake."
"He's always out there saying really nice things about me in the press and I pay attention," she adds. "And Jesse, I haven't heard a peep."
Elsewhere in the special, Cyrus reveals that she had a real-life crush on "High School Musical" star Zac Efron and confirms she previously dated "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" star Dylan Sprouse.
4. What else does Miley Cyrus say about Disney Channel in the early 2000s?
As someone at the center of the Disney Channel universe in the early 2000s, a formative time for many of her fans, Cyrus reflects on what it was like interacting with other stars across the brand, including those from "High School Musical," "That's So Raven" and "Suite Life." She also recalls the time Vanessa Hudgens and Efron gave her a ride to the Disney Upfronts.
"That was a prime time of Disney and those shows, because they were so beyond kids," Cyrus says. "Everyone knew Vanessa and Zac and 'High School Musical.' Disney wasn't just for kids."
5. How did Taylor Swift end up in the 'Hannah Montana' movie?
Fans may remember music superstar Taylor Swift in the "Hannah Montana" movie, where she sings "Crazier" during a barn scene. Cyrus says in the special that at the time, filmmakers were "looking for someone that would authentically -- no shade -- be performing in a barn."
Cyrus also says Swift wrote the song "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home" for the movie.
The "Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special" is available to stream now on Disney+ and Hulu.
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